NZ defence forces 2500 short

New Zealand's defence forces are 2500 people short of the number needed to do their jobs safely and it will take years to build them up to the required numbers, a new report has found.

The Defence Capability and Resourcing Review, completed earlier this year but only recently released, found the combined shortfall of personnel numbers in the army, navy and airforce was about 2500.

That shortfall followed a decline in total personnel numbers from 20,785 in June 1991 to just 12,889 in June 2004.

The report puts the decline down to the reduction in the frigate fleet, disbandment of the air combat force, contracting out of some services and "efficiency".

"Limits on personnel numbers have also been imposed by the Chief of Defence Force as a response to funding constraints."

A tight labour market had not helped matters and trained defence force workers were a target for other employers.

The army and defence force headquarters were the worst affected by the personnel shortfall. "Shortages are particularly severe in some trades and there are also shortages at some rank levels," the report says.

"The army is suffering significant attrition, at around 18 per cent or around 750 (people) per year, compared to its long-term average of 14.9 per cent."

That meant the army was having to increase the number of people it trained just to stay level.

Majors and lieutenant colonels were in short supply at headquarters with those ranks needed out in the field.

Although the defence force's budget was about $1.5 billion a year at the time the report was completed in February, that still left major funding constraints and reserve supplies of ammunition, spare parts and other equipment were "well below appropriate levels".

Most of the defence force's infrastructure was developed "during and after the Second World War" and only the navy's and air force's infrastructure was adequate.

In May, Finance Minister Michael Cullen announced $4.6 billion in defence spending over the next 10 years.

- NZPA